St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-25

better to see US. Norah sat down. re-
luctantly did the same.
..'Woud you sharpen my pencile" she
asked.
She was looking at me curiously. I
fancy she half-suspected my nervous
ness; so, putting the best face on mat
tiers, l got out my knife and held out
it toward me, forgot all but her. own
sweet self and seized the little hand
tenderly. She snatched 1t hastily away,
and think now she thought, as my at
titude suggested, that / was about to-
pare her nails. 4
81 think, Mr.. Maurice" she said.
gently, Il could manage better if you;
would not mind going the other side of
the bullockS and attracting the notice
of that black one in the other direction.
They are looking the same way and it
looks so stiff. If you held out somes
grass to him or switched your stick
about, it might keep his attention.
fixed"
l rose slowly, and cautiously found
my way to the other side.
1t was quite needless to do anything
to attract that monsters attentions; his
eye was on me. AS | moved, so did he;
and. as | sat down, he turned his head.
the better to watch me. l was turning
hot and cold by turns.
That will do nicely, thanks. Keep
him III that position for few minutes, !"
called Norah.
Then came silence, broken only by
the beating of my heart. The suspense
grew unbearable, and the perspiration
began to pour down my face. l drew
out my handkerchief to wipe my heated
brow, when, with an angry grunt, the
ANIMAL began to rise. / saw my fatal
error; the handkerchief was red!
Rapidly the brute gained his feet and
with head bent low advanced toward
me. 1t was too much. All, all was for
gotten but the fate that seemed before
me. l sprang up-I blush to own It'll
turned round, and l ran!
Thud, thud came those heofs behind
me. Nearer came that snOrting breadth
till L almost thought / felt it hot upon
my neck. Faster and faster / flew
nearer and nearer came that frantic
beast!
Just then thought caught faint
voice on the air-"Pray drop your hand
kerchief!" did. for 1 found in my ter
ror l had been waving it from side to
side as L ran. Almost Immediately the
tramping of hOofs ceased; but without
pausing to look behind made straight
for a fence just in front of me, which
having vaulted, found myself safe at
last.
Then the whole abSurdity of my po-
Sltlon burst upon me. The ridiculous
figure L must have cut before NOrah, the
contempt she must feel for my coward
ice: Oh, what would Il not have given
to be able to wipe the last half hour out
of my life
After great deal of consideration as
to my future conduct, l determined to
face the party at lunch, when l could
Judge If my late exploit was known. |
Joined them, they were all seated on the
grass. L noticed decided pause in the
kins was busily helping Norah to SOME
Strawberries. His head was turned
away from me. but when he saw me up
! went that deteSted glass, and the usual
inspection began. When his eve
gained the level of my pocket, where
the handkerchief so lately had shown
itself, he looked suddenly in my face
and, calling to the carver, said: Brett,
Mr.. Maurice will take some beef
A roar of laughter followed this sally,
and l felt that ali was known. l felt
mortified, Illuminated, and without power
to face it out, rose hastily and left them,
returning at once to the barracks.
L knew | had lost Moran O'CreganA
How could she ever care for a man
whose conduct must have appeared
so contemplate?
My life after this incident was not
happy one. AS far as | could | passed
the time alone, bordering how to re-
trieve the lost ground, and hailing with
delight an opportunity which soon after
offered itself of changing into another
regiment. which was ordered abroad on
Immediate active service.
Time passed. and once more was on
my native soil. We received perfect
ovation when we landed in dear old
England. +
Tel-el Kebir was the subject of every
ones thoughts, and sick and ill as was
my cheek flushed with honest pleasure
as handkerchiefS were waved and well
comes shouted.
was faint and dizzy; my arm had
been amputated at the shoulder and |
suffered acute pain, but it was proud
moment to me. all the same.
l was inyalided directly after, and
weeks were passed in the sick ward of
Brighton barracks.
One day the door was suddenly thrown
open and some of our fellows burst in.
''Cheer up, cheer up, old man!'' cried
one. Hear this" Skimming through
paper he held in his hand. "'Conspicu-
Gus bravery, V. c. Why, it is worth
dying for!'
And as their CHEEKY congratulations
poured in upon me felt it was worth
living for.
began to mend rapidly at this, and
was soon able to go down to the sea in a
chair.
One morning, as I was lazily lying
back, drinking in the fresh salt air, 1
became conscious of a figure standing
by my CARR. opened my eyes.
'.NOrah!'' cried-''Norah!''
Neither of us spoke for few moments
as gazed fOndly on her blushing face.
At last she said: .'Oh, I'm so sorry,
and yet SO very glad, so very proud''
Then tell me you do not think me a
coward now!' cried, eagerly.
"How could L? Oh, do not ask me
such cruel question:" she faltered.
And as her eyes rested on the empty
sleeve that was pinned across my breast
l saw they were full of tears; and so
were mine, but they were tears of joy,
for as my hand closed on hers 1 knew
that for all time NOrah was my own.